Guests of The
Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn absolutely love visiting the
famous Santa Fe
Farmer's Market, known for its abundant produce and lively
atmosphere, but did you know you could make it a holiday shopping
destination too? The Farmer's Market shops are open everyday
through December 24th, giving you an opportunity to shop
local and find unique gifts for everyone on your list. Choose
from a tantalizing selection of wines, teas, coffees, chocolates,
garden items, as well as a variety of locally and internationally
crafted gifts.

The shops are open Monday through Friday from noon to 6pm,
Saturdays from 8am-4pm and Sundays from 10am-4pm. The Market
Shops entrance is in Railyard Plaza, at 1607 Paseo de Peralta.
Forget the mall and support the community of Santa Fe.

In addition, while many of us patronize the market throughout the
spring, summer and fall, it is easy to forget that the market is
open on Saturday mornings from 8am-1pm throughout the winter
months. Stop in for fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables,
honey, eggs, cheese, grassfed meats, delicious baked goods, body
care products and herbal products.

Another fun day to visit the Farmer's Market Pavilion is Sundays,
when the Railyard Artists Market takes place from 10am-4pm.
Listen to live music and peruse the booths of over 40 local
artists selling fiber art, paintings, hand blown glass, herbal
products, sculpture, photography, jewelry and so much more.
Yet another venue for some extraordinary holiday
shopping!

On exhibit will be pottery, weavings, drums, bead work and more
from over 200 Native artists from the US and Canada. A
special treat are six open studio artists demonstrations by
award-winning artists, as well as Native American music, dance and
food. A highlight of this winter's market is a performance of
"The Immersion" by world champion hoop dancer and Cirque de Soleil star Nakotah
LaRance, accompanied by Brian Frejo playing the Native
flute, hand drum and a mix of hip hop beats. This performance
will take place at 1:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Admission to the Winter Indian Market is $10/day or $15 for the
weekend, with members and children admitted free of charge.
Stay away from the crowds at the mall and take advantage of
this cultural event - a great place to buy some memorable and
unique gifts.

New to the Santa Fe restaurant scene is Joseph's Table, an intimate
and romantic little establishment with a creative and innovate
menu. Chef Joseph Wrede had opened the original Joseph's
Table in Taos, where it was very successful for many years.
He closed it several years ago, perhaps due to the hard
economic hit taken by Taos during the recession, and moved to Santa
Fe in 2011 where he worked at The Palace Restaurant and then at
Tomme, which is now closed.

This past October Joseph's Table re-opened at 428 Montezuma, home
of the now defunct Azur Restaurant. The restaurant business
is a tough one! The menu features a wide variety of dishes,
from Starters such as Rock Shrimp & Smoked Butter with Crispy
Whole Wheat Phyllo and Sherry Wine Beurre ($14) or Grilled Polenta
with Warm Chicken Liver Mousse, Parma Prosciutto, Crispy Shallots
& Parsley ($12). I dined there a few nights ago with
friends and began with a Raw Vegetable Salad with Zucchini, Squash
& Fennel with Butter Lettuce & Black Truffle Vinaigrette
($11). I was expecting something with more raw veggies, given
the description, but it was really a Butter Lettuce Salad with a
few shavings of vegetables. Tasty, but not what I had
anticipated. One of the highlights of our meal, in my
opinion, were the French Fries, fried in Duck Oil, that we ordered
for the table. Delicious! Also incredibly good rolls
with herb butter. Yummy!

Main dishes include Local Lamb & Banana Yellow Curry Tagine
with Lemon Coriander Jasmine Rice ($24), Organic Scottish Salmon
with Corn Pudding, Sweet Potato Tamale and a Warm Tomatillo Sauce
($27) and Mustard Seed & Creme Fraiche Crusted Cast Iron
Cauliflower, White Beans, Anchovy Tomato Sauce, Fried Capers &
Green Dust ($18). I opted for the Pumpkin, Kale, Corn &
Local Chanterelle Enchiladas with Cotna Cheese, Spicy Green Rice
& East Indian Spinach Puree ($22). I found the
combination of flavors to be quite pleasing to the palate, but it
didn't knock my socks off the way I had hoped.

I really wanted to love the restaurant, having heard such rave
reviews about Joseph's Table in Taos. The interior is so warm
and inviting, and I appreciate Chef Wrede's innovative menu.
Because of those two factors, I will go back again when I am
not part of a large group, and will perhaps have a very different
experience. There were about 12 of us at the table, and I
recognize it is hard to service such a large party.

All week long guests of The
Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn have been heading off to
Albquerque, whether at the crack of dawn or later in the afternoon,
to experience the 40th
Annual Albquerque Balloon Fiesta. If you have never seen this
event, a Kodak moment if there ever was one, be sure to make it
part of your New Mexico itinerary. The Albquerque Balloon Fiesta is
the largest of its kind in the world, and they are always on the
cutting edge of hot air
ballooning. In fact it was in Albquerque, in 1979, where the
idea of balloon glows originated.

My favorite part of the Balloon Fiesta is the night glow, when the
burners of each balloon is fired up at the same time, creating a
spectacular sight of glowing balloons of all shapes and sizes. This
is followed by a memorable fireworks display.

Another highlight of the Balloon Fiesta is the Dawn Patrol.
Balloonists prepare their balloons at 5:45am, taking off while it
is still dark, and fly until there is enough light to find a safe
landing spot. While there are no mass ascension days left during
this year's Festival, you can still see dawn ascensions this
weekend.

The
Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn utilizes local harvests of
everything from apples to chiles, but what could be more fun than
spending a day at the annual Harvest Festival taking place at
Rancho de las Golondrinas
on October 5 & 6, 2013. The full day events run from
10am-4pm and are the most popular of their weekend events -
certainly my personal favorite of the Golondrinas festivals.
Watch as grapes are crushed by foot for wine, chiles are
strung for ristras, burros crush sorghum in the making of molasses,
and apple cider and tortillas are made (and consumed). Also
demonstrated are milling, blacksmithing, bread making, dying of
wool and tanning of hides. Join in the fun by making your own
corn husk doll or participating in the tin stamping workshop,
trying out your archery skills, enjoying storytelling with Paulette
Atencio or going on a wagon ride. There is also music,
flamenco
dancing, and delicious food and drink available throughout the
day.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and teens, with
children 12 and under admitted for free.

Guests at The Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn enjoy
visiting Rancho de las
Golondrinas (Ranch of the Swallows) throughout the year:
visitors of all ages take great delight in this living history
museum. The early 18th century Spanish colonial ranch is
especially memorable when visited during one of the many weekend
events, such as this weekend's Santa Fe Renaissance Fair, taking place
from 10am-6pm on September 21 & 22, 2012.

The Fair features music, flamenco & belly dancing, a medieval
village, costume contest and medieval combat, as well as Celtic
games, food and drink, including ale and mead! Of particular
note on the entertainment schedule are the performances by the
enchanting Clan
Tynker, with its jugglers, magic shows and fire tricks.

Tickets are a modest $10 for adults, $7 for teens and seniors, and
FREE for children under age 13. Proceeds from the fair
benefit The
Interfaith Community Shelter, an organization which serves the
homeless of Santa Fe.

Rancho de las Golondrinas is located 20 minutes south of town.
From 1-25 South take Exit 276 and follow the signs.

In
the back gardens of The
Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn is the award-winning Absolute Nirvana Spa, a
destination for locals and visitors seeking top-notch bodywork as
well as authentic Balinese spa treatments. Throughout the
year the spa offers seasonal specials, and this time of year brings
two of our most popular offerings. Fall is in the air,
with crisp cool nights, falling leaves, and heavenly aromas of
pumpkin pies, sugar and spices, inspiring us to create two Pumpkin Spa
Specials.

Along with its heavenly aroma, pumpkin is
also fantastic for your skin. Pumpkin is rich in
carotenoid antioxidants that repair skin damage while
simultaneously polishing and hydrating dull skin. The plant
is also full of natural plant enzymes that accelerate the
exfoliation process to peel away dry dead skin cells, reduce fine
lines and sun damage, leaving skin renewed, refreshed and amazingly
soft and glowing.

Our Pumpkin Decadence treat takes advantage of all the
gloriousness of pumpkin: Treat yourself to a full body
massage and exfoliating body scrub of brown sugar and cinnamon,
followed by a nourishing mask of warm pumpkin, honey and cloves.
One and a half hours of yumminess for just $165.

Or indulge in a Delicious Pumpkin Facial, incorporating the
natural exfoliating and nourishing properties of Naturopathica's Pumpkin Enzyme
Peel to increase collagen production, leaving the skin firm and
radiant, with increased elasticity. One our of cleansing,
exfoliation, hydrating mask, steam and nourishing cream for
$105.

Once you have been inundated with the tantalizing smells of
pumpkin and spices, add to your indulgence with a trip to Harry's Roadhouse for
a slice of Peyton's fabulous Pumpkin Pie!

The
Madeleine Bed & Breakfast Inn, just three blocks from the
Plaza, is an ideal home base for shoppers. With several
remarkable sales going on at some of Santa Fe's best boutiques, the
shopping just got that much better.

End-of-season sales are happening at at Origins, with Cottons and
Linens from India, Guatamala and Italy offered at 2 for the price
of 1. This is in addition to 60-70% off a selection of
Designer items.

You will also find huge discounts at another local favorite
woman's clothing store: Bodhi Bazaar, in the Sanbusco Center, is discounting all
remaining spring and summer fashions by 25-80%, with an additional
10% taken off at the register.

Just
a ten minute drive from The
Madeleine Inn is the ever-so-popular Museum Hill, home of four
of Santa Fe's best museums. Along with the Wheelwright, International Folk Art
and Indian Arts
& Culture is the Museum of Spanish
Colonial Art. Now on display at the Spanish Colonial is
a significantly large and permanent gift of Peruvian art: over
sixty pieces have been donated to the museum from the estate
of Pedro Gerardo
Beltran Espantoso, Peru's Ambassador to the United States in
1944-45 and Prime Minister of Peru from 1959-61. In addition
to the new permanent collection is a large number of objects on
long-term loan from the estate. These rare pieces of Peruvian
art, never before seen by the public, will be exhibited at the
museum through May 27, 2014.

Some noteworthy pieces on display are a Eglomise painting of the
Madonna & Child, an intricate silver panel of Abraham, Isaac
& Angel, and a table with marquetry of incised ivory and
tortoise shell. Other items include an exquisite dinner
service, jewelry, silver and a selection of paintings.

The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art is the only museum in the
country dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting art of the Spanish
colonial period. The Museum showcases over 3700 pieces of
art, ranging from historically important pieces to contemporary
work. I recommend arranging for a docent tour, which can be
done in advance of your visit by calling 505.982.2226 x 121 or
sending an email to [email protected].

Just
a short walk from The Madeleine
Bed & Breakfast Inn is the atelier of Laura Sheppherd Salon de
Couture, a local designer whose collections feature both ready
to wear garments or one-of-a-kind made to order pieces. Her
designs reference fashion history, incorporating 19th century
corsets, sensuous bias draping from the 1930's, and graphic designs
from days of yore. Along with gorgeous daytime and evening
jackets and dresses, she has a large bridal collection.
Sheppherd uses stunning fabrics in all of her pieces, many
being rare and antique, along with trims, lace and beaded laces
made exclusively for her in France and India.

Now is the perfect time to shop at this jewel of a store, as they
are celebrating 15 years of business with 20-75% off both Summer
and Winter Collections, now through the end of August. Peruse
the selection of Close out Bridal dresses, Cocktail and Long
Dresses, Silk Separates and Velvets, Hats, Sweater, Leather Gloves
and much more.